His pricing model is called "cost plus pricing", he added up all his costs and added a percent profit on top of that. The reason this feels so expensive is because he took a profit margin from a service product and applied it to a retail product. Retail products generally have lower profit margins because they scale easier than services.
If you would use good stainless, and we had to produce that? As a ex QC technician (I am a assembly lead now at a custom machines/fabrication shop) high volume of these things we would do it approx like this. If we would laser cut Laser cutting (we use a 4.5kw Amada) edges are not smooth. Let's get that corrected right of the bat. A full sheet of stainless can hold alot of the presses. But you need to shake the parts out the sheet (taking 2 people to shake) and deburr. "Note during cutting , we would also etch and decals/patent numbers in the product" It also looked like they tumbled the them (gives it a distinct look) it will knock any burrs , dirt, and sharp edges off it. So that takes a tumbler and again 1 person to operate it and run it . The handle , can be pressed by a hand press or machine . Again someone will be needed to do that job Pack, ship and we have 3 guys in shipping. Then there is method 2 we can do Instead of laser cutting, use our turret punch. We would load up the tooling needed (punches) to puch them all out of the sheet. The issue is at that thickness, it will wear the tooling out rather fast, especially if it's stainless. So cost gets calculated in there .... Laser cutting does allow faster operation, but it doesn't allow for many secondary operations like the turret can. For example the handle can be pressed out by the turret in the same operation cycle. That's a cost saving right there... I think the price, considering it's good material , they did tumble it (I can see that clearly) press the handles by hand , shipping , what not. It's very reasonable...
I was referring to the die cut corners not being a consistent radius (which I think is pretty common for die-rounded corners? At least it is in printing...)
I bought the first release immediately when some yootooby found them at a show. I thought: Perfect! Exactly what i needed for several recipes, stainless means mindless, and elegantly if stupidly simple design. When the round version was introduced, immediately ordered a pair. I happily ordered all of my chef presses directly from the maker. I use each press far more often than I thought I would: veggies, sammie’s, proteins, stove, grill, and in the oven, so I’ve got two stuck to the magnet knife rack.
I have several of these. I love them and I think they are worth saving up for. I try and spend my money in a way that aligns with my values. A hyperlocal company that produces a product that is versatile and useful? Sign me up.
Just for the record - no one is making a one-third profit. The inventor sells at twice the price of the manufacturing cost, so that’s a 100% profit. The retailer’s margin is one-third of the final price, so that’s a 50% per cent profit.
Very helpful review! I was surprised you saw the patent marking as a threat. To me, it seemed clearly a design decision, marking with pride the innovation of the product design. Also, I have to disagree with your characterisation of a patent as being meaningless without "the intent to sue to protect it". Yes, patent holders have to be *willing* to protect their inventions, but unless your position is that there should be no legal protection of intellectual property, that willingness is unavoidable.
I'd love for you to review katto products, it's a small business I've used for a while, it's my introduction to proper quality kitchen products, I'm not sure if I'm making terrible financial decisions lol. I've got their chefs press and all their knives and chopping board, love to know if I'm wasting my money on poor quality product
His pricing model is called "cost plus pricing", he added up all his costs and added a percent profit on top of that. The reason this feels so expensive is because he took a profit margin from a service product and applied it to a retail product. Retail products generally have lower profit margins because they scale easier than services.
If you would use good stainless, and we had to produce that?
As a ex QC technician (I am a assembly lead now at a custom machines/fabrication shop) high volume of these things we would do it approx like this.
If we would laser cut
Laser cutting (we use a 4.5kw Amada) edges are not smooth. Let's get that corrected right of the bat. A full sheet of stainless can hold alot of the presses. But you need to shake the parts out the sheet (taking 2 people to shake) and deburr.
"Note during cutting , we would also etch and decals/patent numbers in the product"
It also looked like they tumbled the them (gives it a distinct look) it will knock any burrs , dirt, and sharp edges off it. So that takes a tumbler and again 1 person to operate it and run it .
The handle , can be pressed by a hand press or machine . Again someone will be needed to do that job
Pack, ship and we have 3 guys in shipping.
Then there is method 2 we can do
Instead of laser cutting, use our turret punch. We would load up the tooling needed (punches) to puch them all out of the sheet.
The issue is at that thickness, it will wear the tooling out rather fast, especially if it's stainless. So cost gets calculated in there ....
Laser cutting does allow faster operation, but it doesn't allow for many secondary operations like the turret can.
For example the handle can be pressed out by the turret in the same operation cycle. That's a cost saving right there...
I think the price, considering it's good material , they did tumble it (I can see that clearly) press the handles by hand , shipping , what not.
It's very reasonable...
I was referring to the die cut corners not being a consistent radius (which I think is pretty common for die-rounded corners? At least it is in printing...)
I bought the first release immediately when some yootooby found them at a show. I thought: Perfect! Exactly what i needed for several recipes, stainless means mindless, and elegantly if stupidly simple design. When the round version was introduced, immediately ordered a pair. I happily ordered all of my chef presses directly from the maker. I use each press far more often than I thought I would: veggies, sammie’s, proteins, stove, grill, and in the oven, so I’ve got two stuck to the magnet knife rack.
Great review 👍🏻 glad it got recommended
I have several of these. I love them and I think they are worth saving up for. I try and spend my money in a way that aligns with my values. A hyperlocal company that produces a product that is versatile and useful? Sign me up.
ditto.
Just for the record - no one is making a one-third profit. The inventor sells at twice the price of the manufacturing cost, so that’s a 100% profit. The retailer’s margin is one-third of the final price, so that’s a 50% per cent profit.
I've been really interested in these for a while, thank you for the thoughtful review!
🫡 hope it helps make the decision!
Very helpful review! I was surprised you saw the patent marking as a threat. To me, it seemed clearly a design decision, marking with pride the innovation of the product design. Also, I have to disagree with your characterisation of a patent as being meaningless without "the intent to sue to protect it". Yes, patent holders have to be *willing* to protect their inventions, but unless your position is that there should be no legal protection of intellectual property, that willingness is unavoidable.
He has some serious McIntosh amps in that shop of his.
I'd love for you to review katto products, it's a small business I've used for a while, it's my introduction to proper quality kitchen products, I'm not sure if I'm making terrible financial decisions lol. I've got their chefs press and all their knives and chopping board, love to know if I'm wasting my money on poor quality product
I love the writing and I'm Gen Z so you bugging 😂 it gives me industrial vibes I like it
Much as the item is brilliantly designed I'm waiting for Temu to sell a knock-off at 10% of the current price.